Benoit's Dad: Toxicology Tests May Help Explain Why Pro Wrestler Killed Self, Family

Friday, June 29th 2007, 5:40 pm

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) _ The father of pro wrestler Chris Benoit said Friday that he was eager to see whether chemical tests can help explain why Benoit killed his wife and son and committed suicide, acts the wrestler's father said he had no clue were coming.

Michael Benoit said by phone from his home in Canada that his family is shocked and in disbelief over the slayings.

``We have no understanding of why it happened,'' he said. ``We need some time to gather our thoughts and wait and see. There's still more information that's going to come out from toxicology tests that will give us some understanding of why this happened.''

Anabolic steroids were found in Chris Benoit's home in an Atlanta suburb, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the killings, which took place last weekend. Some experts believe steroids can cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as ``roid rage.''

The wrestler strangled his wife and 7-year-old son, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before hanging himself on the cable of a weight-machine in his home, authorities said. No motive was offered for the killings.

Investigators had not yet discovered the bodies Monday when someone altered Benoit's Wikipedia entry to mention his wife's death, authorities said.

An anonymous user with the same IP address as the person who made the edits confessed early Friday on an online discussion page attached to the Web site, saying the changes were based on rumors and speculation, not hard evidence.

The authenticity of the posting could not immediately be confirmed.

``I just can't believe what I wrote was actually the case, I've remained stunned and saddened over it,'' the user wrote.

According to Wikinews, an online news source connected to Wikipedia, the Internet protocol address of the individual is identical to that of the user who edited Benoit's profile early Monday morning. An IP address is a unique series of numbers carried by every machine connected to the Internet.

Benoit's page on Wikipedia, a reference site that allows users to add and edit information, was updated at 12:01 a.m. Monday, about 14 hours before authorities say the bodies were found. The reason he missed a match Saturday night was ``stemming from the death of his wife Nancy,'' it said.

Wikipedia confirmed the authenticity of the time stamp and said the entry was made by someone using an IP address registered in Stamford, Conn., where World Wrestling Entertainment is based. The anonymous user acknowledged being from Stamford, but claimed no connection to WWE.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told The Associated Press on Friday that officials of the site became aware of the posting Tuesday.

``The guy who's admitted to doing it said it was just a coincidence,'' Wales said. ``He said he was hearing rumors. I wonder where those rumors came from. I guess the police will figure that out eventually.''

Investigators in the Benoit case did not return phone calls Friday seeking further information.

On Thursday, federal agents said they had raided the west Georgia office of a doctor who prescribed testosterone to Benoit, said agent Chuvalo Truesdell, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration. No arrests were made during the raid at Dr. Phil Astin's office late Wednesday into Thursday.

Hours before the raid, Astin told the AP he had treated Benoit for low testosterone levels, which he said likely originated from steroid use.

Among other things, investigators were looking for Benoit's medical records to see whether he had been prescribed steroids and, if so, whether that prescription was appropriate, according to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because records in the case remain sealed.

Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office June 22.

Michael Benoit, who lives near Edmonton in Ardrossan, Alberta, said the test results, which could take several weeks to be completed, ``could give us closure.'' He said his son had seemed fine when they spoke on Father's Day, and had even said he regretted having to work instead of spending the day with his family.

``That really wouldn't give you an indication of someone who would do what he did a week later,'' the father said.